Collins’ Bait Shop (662) 226-3581 and MDWFP angler creel surveys this past week showed crappie fishing has been best in the main lake point from Skuna ramp to Carver Point fishing big crankbaits or jigs and/or minnows 14 – 20 ft deep. A lot of short fish are being reported; use bigger baits and fish deeper to discourage smaller fish. Pinch down the barbs on hooks to make releasing short fish faster and less damaging; it does no good to release dead fish. Quite a few blue catfish and white bass have been hitting baits meant for crappie. Catfish have been biting natural baits on lines, jugs (noodles), or rod-and-reel. White bass are in the main lake feeding on shad; fish jigs, tailspinner lures, or small crankbaits over sandy points in the evenings. Where the two rivers join is usually the best spot for “stripes”; also check out the river channels in the upper ends of the lake arms. There is no size or number limit on white bass. For largemouth bass, fish spinnerbaits or topwaters in shallower water over flooded cover early and late in the day and crankbaits or soft plastics in deeper water on channel edges or main lake points midday; look for clearer water. Right now most of the main lake is clear.

As the water falls, folks report balls of “fish eggs” or “jellyfish” clinging to sticks, trees, and about everything else. These are actually colonial animals (like coral) that filter plankton out of the water. Nibbling by fish results in a rounded colony. Web search “freshwater bryozoans” for more on these interesting, ancient animals.

The spillway had one gate open 10.0 ft (3000 cfs) Tuesday. The best thing going down here has been catfishing early in the morning. Fish for blue catfish (white humpbacks) with nightcrawlers, shad, or minnows under a slip cork, or use rods or lines with live bait for catfish on down the river below the spillway.

The bad smell in the spillway is hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg gas) that is in solution in deep water where there is no oxygen in the upper lake. As deep water is drawn through the dam, the gas comes out of solution in the spillway when the water is re-oxygenated with splashing down the tunnel and rocks.

Collins’ Bait Shop (662)226-3581 and MDWFP angler creel surveys this past week showed crappie fishing has picked up recently with the main lake point from Skuna ramp to Carver Point the best area. Some limits of big fish have been reported lately, but you have to use big baits; fish crankbaits 16 – 20 ft deep. A lot of short fish are being reported; use bigger baits and fish deeper to discourage smaller fish. Pinch down the barbs on crankbait hooks to make releasing short fish faster and less damaging; it does no good to release dead fish. Quite a few blue catfish and white bass have been hitting crankbaits meant for crappie. Catfishing on lines or rod-and-reel has been picking up as fish are feeding after they’re done spawning. White bass are in the main lake feeding on shad; fish jigs, tailspinner lures, or small crankbaits over sandy points. Where the two rivers join is usually the best spot for “stripes”. There is no size or number limit on white bass. For largemouth bass, fish spinnerbaits or topwaters in shallower water over flooded cover early and late in the day and crankbaits or soft plastics in deeper water on channel edges or main lake points midday; look for clearer water.

As the water falls, folks report balls of “fish eggs” or “jellyfish” clinging to sticks, trees, and about everything else. These are actually colonial animals (like coral) that filter plankton out of the water. Nibbling by fish results in a rounded colony. Web search “freshwater bryozoans” for more on these interesting, ancient animals.

The spillway had all gates closed (0 cfs) Tuesday. The Corps had to fix a bouy line that sucked into the spillway; one gate should be open at 8.0 ft (2500 cfs) Wednesday. Best luck down here has been for blue catfish (white humpbacks) with nightcrawlers, shad, or minnows under a slip cork or using rods or lines with live bait on down the river below the spillway.

A lot of short fish are being reported; use bigger baits and fish deeper to discourage smaller fish. Quite a few blue cats have been incidental catch on crankbaits fished for crappie. Catfishing has been good for channel cats over rip-rap rocks; fish worms or other baits under a bobber. Lines and noodles (jugs) are also producing. Most grabblers have been having trouble getting to boxes set out before the water rose. Both blues (white river cats) and flatheads (yellow cats) have been grabbled recently. White bass are in the main lake feeding on shad; fish jigs, tailspinner lures, or small crankbaits over sandy points. There is no size or number limit on white bass. Largemouth bass are pulling into deeper water as the lake warms. Fish spinnerbaits or topwaters in shallower water over flooded cover early and late in the day and crankbaits or soft plastics in deeper water on channel edges or main lake points midday; look for clearer water.

As the water falls, folks report balls of “fish eggs” or “jellyfish” clinging to sticks, trees, and about everything else. These are actually colonial animals (like coral) that filter plankton out of the water. Nibbling by fish results in a rounded colony. Web search “freshwater bryozoans” for more on these interesting, ancient animals.